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Post by Josh on Feb 9, 2008 10:36:44 GMT -5
Hi Dan, He actually emailed me last night out of the blue. I didn't know what to think when I first read the email (thought maybe it was fake) and then when I opened the pictures.....WOW!!! I was floored. He seemed like a very nice guy and was very open to answering any questions we might have for him. It definately looks like Armus painted a completely different picture of the attitude on the set. Perhaps he was possibly just not liked by any of the cast and crew, so he walked away with a bad feeling about the who thing. I have been trying to update the site while the weather is cold (I HATE winter!). Once spring/summer comes around you can pretty much count on the site to become stale again until next winter. My main goal for this winter was to get the episodes online. Hopefully, they will stay up for a while and I won't have to re-upload them again. Now that Ron Paul is pretty much out of the race, I no longer feel the need to help support his campaign. It's too bad really, he was the only guy who possibly could have turned this country in the right direction. It's too bad we will probably be stuck with choosing from McCain or Clinton. Both of them are complete.....we'll.....politicians.
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Post by Dan on Feb 9, 2008 12:18:29 GMT -5
Hey Josh, that's great to hear. Must have been great to come and find that in your inbox! Well, I think most of the questions I would have asked have been covered by the others. I look forward to hearing what else he has to say. If you have no objection I have reproduced Rob's comments on streethawk.tv-series.com for the folk's there. I think it's silly to rule out people just by a flippant comment by a guy we don't really know. Burt was quite harsh and unsympathetic about Belous and Wolterstorff. It was their first job after all. I'm pleased they have been represented now, and it looks he has much to contribute. This has drawn a nice line under the whole thing for me I have to say. Thank you Robert, and thank you Josh for being there... ~ Dan
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Post by Dan on Feb 9, 2008 14:47:13 GMT -5
A few questions that have popped into my head...
Did you screen test anyone else famous for the role of Jesse Mach? In retrospect, do you like the job Rex Smith did?
How did you get Joe Regalbuto onboard and how was he to work with?
Who were the stunt riders?
Any disasters? Were you satisfied with the look of the bike all things considered?
Why didn't you try other networks when ABC would not continue to run the show?
Bob. If you are reading this, I'd like to thank you for taking the time to stop by and for your invaluable input. Street Hawk was one of my favourite shows growing up, and a fondness has always remained for this mis-understood production.
Dan
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Post by Pentastar on Feb 11, 2008 2:18:12 GMT -5
Wow, I spend a weekend rennovating my house and look what I missed! I know we'd talked about interview questions in the past, so I went looking for some and I found a few that Josh had considered asking Burton Armus that we could ask Bob: How would he have ended the show if he had a chance to end it? How was the stunt done in a second self where the bike does a 360 in mid air? Why was the pilot bike scrapped?? Are there any unaired episodes?? Everyone else has already added fantastic quesitons, so I only have the following to add: - What was Paul Belous like to work with, and how did you end up paired together? - What did the jibberish written on the Maxi Cola sign say? - Are there any inside jokes or other tricks you snuck into the show or script? - What are you doing now? Are you still involved in TV or film? I hope it gives Mr. Wolterstorff some satisfaction to know there are people like us who loved his TV show and consider it an unappreciated masterpiece.
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Post by Josh on Feb 11, 2008 20:19:50 GMT -5
Hi everyone. I just fired of an email to Bob with all of your questions and have already received an reply from him. ;D
What can you tell us about the change from the pilot-style bike to the one used in the series? Who's decision was it and what did you think of each design?
The change from the pilot bike to the series was as far as I can remember losing the laser and adding a machine gun per ABC. I think there were a few design refinements as well. One of the big problems was the battery life for the lights and other equipment on the bike -- they had a very short life span and had to be replaced almost after each scene.
Why did the Canadian version of the pilot get the superimposed/blue-screen vertical lift effects and blue particle beam while the American version got scenes of actual jumps and a red particle beam?
They did? That's news to me. We actually mixed real jumps with blue screen jumps throughout the pilot but relied more on real.
The pilot is listed as being 90 minutes long in pre-airing advertisements, but the final product was only 60 minutes long. Do you remember what scenes were cut to so significantly reduce the length?
I don't but I probably still have the 90 version somewhere on VHS -- I'll dig around. It's a long time ago but I thought ABC aired the 90 minute for the premier.
What direction did you provide Andrew Probert between his initial futuristic designs of the bike to get him where he was with his final sketch? Were you satisfied with the look of the bike all things considered?
As I mentioned before it was a huge undertaking to actually manufacture the bike and produce the series. We knew we wanted the look of a Cafe' racer but also grabbed ideas out of a custom motorcycle magazine. We also wanted the side flaps for the pilot back-flip stunt and we liked the hidden headlight and the blue outline lights. I was satisfied with the look and I think the design was ahead of its time thanks to Mr. Probert. I also have great respect for our production designer/art director who designed the the HQ, the tunnel and the billboard that the bike flew out of -- I can't remember his name but he was great.
It appears as though the bike was painted an extremely dark shade of blue. Was the bike supposed to be black in "Street Hawk world" and the slightly bluish hue was only used to help in photographing the bike, or was the midnight blue the official color in the fictional universe as well?
It was a deep midnight blue with a light metal-flake -- not positive on the metal-flake.
How long could the bike run without refueling? One fuel cell of approximately one quart size only lasts me about 8-10 miles, so did the bike have to be refueled constantly throughout the day of shooting?
Exactly. The re-fueling was going on constantly and caused some delays as I recall.
Were there ever any accidents on set? Any disasters?
A young stuntman broke his wrist in the pilot when the dirt bikes dropped out of the rear of the truck, prior to the armor car robbery. In one episode our EFX guys put too much explosive in a gag at a construction site and the blast blew out all the surrounding apartment windows. We changed EFX guys after that.
Did you screen test anyone else famous for the role of Jesse Mach? In retrospect, do you like the job Rex Smith did?
Rex was fine. Like I mentioned, we wanted George Clooney but the network nixed it. I read somewhere that Clooney mentioned in an interview that he got his SAG card on Street Hawk. I also met with Don Johnson but his pilot, Miami Vice was picked up. We changed the female lead from pilot to series as well.
How did you get Joe Regalbuto onboard and how was he to work with?
Joe was a consummate professional. A fine character actor who added a great deal to the series and nailed most of his scenes.
Who were the stunt riders?
I don't remember their names.
Did you try other networks when ABC would not continue to run the show?
No. Universal's call. It was not a cheap show to produce.
Were any script ever written for future episodes?
No.
Are there any unaired episodes??
No.
What was Paul Belous like to work with, and how did you end up paired together?
Paul was my partner for around 10 years. We began on the Jeffersons and ended our partnership on Quantum Leap. I returned to Quantum Leap and stayed at Universal for the following five years. I'm not sure where Paul ended up.
What did the gibberish written on the Maxi Cola sign say?
Not sure I'd have to look. That was our Art Director.
Are there any inside jokes or other tricks you snuck into the show or script?
I'd have to think about that question for a while.
What are you doing now? Are you still involved in TV or film?
The last series I did was called Beyond Belief, Fact or Fiction for thingy Clark and FOX network. That was a few years ago. Since then I've been writing and producing virtual training and real training exercises for DHS and the military. I still have a few features I'm working on as well. The only one along the lines of Street Hawk is "Stinger" a comedy about a super hero who has trouble balancing his cover job, his private life and his hero duties.
How would he have ended the show if he had a chance to end it?
I'd probably have him disappear. Never kill off your hero, it tends to limit your chances for a revival.
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Post by spyhunter2k on Feb 11, 2008 22:04:41 GMT -5
Great info. I hope he knows how much we appreciate his time in answering these questions. I finally found the pic I was looking for that shows the dummy gas cap on the real pilot bike, as shown in that drawing of the almost-final version of the electronics. Before seeing that sketch, I never knew what that rounded raised area behind the tank display and in-between the two front seat extensions was supposed to be. Here's the comparison shots: Since they abandoned the 4-piece seat that had the ejector middle section in favor of just using the stock seat on the series version, this dummy cap is only seen on the pilot bike.
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Post by Pentastar on Feb 12, 2008 11:33:19 GMT -5
Josh,
That was fantastic! Give Bob a big "Thank You!" from us. We couldn't ask for better.
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Post by Josh on Feb 12, 2008 20:30:54 GMT -5
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Scott
Big Time Street Hawk Fan
Posts: 94
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Post by Scott on Feb 23, 2008 9:41:34 GMT -5
Dude!!! This is top-notch! 3) The pilot is listed as being 90 minutes long in pre-airing advertisements, but the final product was only 60 minutes long. Do you remember what scenes were cut to so significantly reduce the length? But again, if he could just scrounge up more pics, it would be worth a gift basket and a 6-pack from me! Already I've gotton useful info about what some of the buttons/lights are supposed to do. Like the "Fuel level" gauge originally intended to be a fuel pressure gauge. The only problem is that I can't quite read all of the fine print attached to some of the buttons and lights, but I'm squinting and doing my best!!! The pilot as originally aired by ABC was 90 minutes in length. I recorded it back in 85, and still have it. However, the Universal VHS release stateside, and syndicated U.S. reruns have a edited down version of the pilot at 60 minutes.
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Post by spyhunter2k on Feb 23, 2008 17:43:39 GMT -5
Can you tell us what scenes were cut/shortened?
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Post by jlaebbischer on Aug 5, 2008 18:18:27 GMT -5
Hello
I am back Online
I had in the Past some Personal Problems. and can't build at the Command Center. To continue the Projekt, I need Pictures and other Informations from the Makers.
Can you send Mr. Wolterstorf these Question, or give me his Email-Adress if he is satisfied?
P.S. Sorry for the English. I try to improve myself without the Google Translator...
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